News

Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill addressed the crowd at Livingston’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service event Monday afternoon at the Senior/ Community Center. This is the 21st Day of Service in Livingston, according to Billy Fine, co-chairman of the Livingston Committee for Diversity, which organizes the event.

“We have many great programs here, which embody our community as a whole,” Fine said, adding that Sherrill’s appearance marked the first time a public official above the county level has spoken at the event. “It gives us an opportunity to grow as a committee and leave our mark in an impactful way.”

Sherrill (D-11), discussed Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy with the crowd, while also touching on the federal government shutdown. Following her speech, Sherrill posed for photos with those in attendance and learned about the service projects taking place throughout the building.

The Livingston Committee for Diversity and Inclusion has invited residents to participate in this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. The event will take on Monday, January 21, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Livingston Senior/Community Center, 204 Hillside Avenue (lower level). 
Various donations such as food, items for the Birthday Box program, and more will be accepted; Dr. King’s speeches will be read; and community leaders will give their own speeches in honor of the Civil Rights leader. “A special surprise guest will also join Livingston for the Day of Service,” noted Judith Heller, communications coordinator for the township.

The American flag in Memorial Park was lowered to half-staff in memory of Robert Leopold, a former mayor and Township Council member during the 1980s, and a decades-long member of the Planning and Zoning Boards. Mr. Leopold died Saturday, January 12, at the age of 93. The family has suggested memorial donations to Doctors Without Borders, Planned Parenthood or the Southern Poverty Law Center.

NKP Photo

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Charlie Schilling, former long-time Livingston Fire Chief and founding member of the Livingston First Aid Squad, announced his formal retirement from township employment. Chief Schilling has been working part time as Livingston’s fire sub-code official, evaluating plans for new construction in regard to fire safety.

Chief Schilling tendered his resignation this past week to his supervisor, township construction official Martin Chiarolanzo. He will retire effective January 31, just two months shy of his 98th birthday.

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At a special meeting on Tuesday evening, January 15, the Livingston Planning Board approved an application by Cryoport Systems, Inc. for the installation of a liquid nitrogen storage tank outside its building at 11 Industrial Parkway.

Tribute to Bob Leopold

Prior to the start of the meeting, Board chairman Peter Klein paid tribute to former long-time Planning Board member and chairman Bob Leopold, who died Saturday, January 12. Klein noted that, after he had replaced Leopold as chairman of the Board, “Bob took the seat to my immediate left so I could benefit from his knowledge and experience, and that seat shall remain empty tonight in his memory.”

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At the end of the first regular meeting of the Livingston Township Council in 2019, mayor Al Anthony announced the threecandidates chosen by the Livingston Democratic Committee to replace Michael Silverman, who resigned from his position on the Council at the start of the new year.The three nominees are Michael Vieira, Laurie Kahn, and Scott Goldman. Kahn and Goldman were both in the audience at Monday’s meeting when the announcement was made.

The Township Council must now select one of those three candidates before the end of the month, otherwise the decision will fall to the county. The Council may conduct interviews with the three candidates and deliberate before they make their selection. Anthony said the Council hopes to have a decision by the January 28 regular meeting.

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Editor’s Note: This week, Jeff “the Coat Guy” Friedman, founder and director of the Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) shares with readers, in his own words, an “LPI success story.” A young woman named Caitlin, a one-time recipient of a donated coat through the charitable organization, recently re-donated the coat back now that she no longer needs it, thereby “paying her good fortune forward.”
    •    •    •
By Jeff Friedman
I hadn’t seen Caitlin since she left her first job at a Livingston business. Her first job, that is, after successfully completing detox and rehab – for the 11th and last time. Caitlin has been clean and sober for three years now and is admirably navigating her way through life while building professional and personal successes. I’d like to share with you Caitlin’s story, the unlikely way in which she crossed paths with Livingston Philanthropies, and why she just returned her LPI donated coat.

Livingston’s veterans organizations will honor two Livingston residents, Don Schwartz and Nick Santinelli, with the Chapel of the Four Chaplains Legion of Honor Award.

First Baby Contest Winner:

Matthew James Semplenski, born January 3, is Livingston’s First Baby of 2019 and the winner of the Tribune’s annual First Baby Contest. The baby was born at Saint Barnabas Medical Center to Frank and Marissa Semplenski of 174 East Cedar Street. He weighed seven pounds, 13 ounces at birth, and was 20¾ inches long. He joins two sisters, Emma, 7½, and Mia, 21 months. David and Donna Semplenski are the baby’s paternal grandparents, and the maternal grandparents are Marian Perna and Anthony and Donna Aulisi.

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Pam Chirls and Ronnie Konner were sworn in at the Board of Education’s re-organization meeting on Monday, January 7 in front of a packed audience.

However, the conflict surrounding the contested campaign and election has not ended.

Buddy August, who had served as vice president the previous year, was unanimously elected Board president. “I do very quick meetings,” August said to good-natured chuckles from the audience.

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